The Science Department - Physics

Forms 4 - 5

Length:  2 years

Rationale:

This course prepares the students to appreciate the importance of science in this new technological world. Consequently, the syllabus aims at developing skills and abilities required to the practice and the study of physics, develop objectivity, integrity and enquiry while aiming at creating awareness for the care of the environment.

Course Description

The physics syllabus covers the following topics:

• General Physics: Measurements (length, time, mass, weight and density), Kinematics, Forces, Energy and Pressure.

• Thermal physics: Simple kinetic molecular model of matte, Thermal properties and Transfer of thermal energy.

• Waves: General wave properties, Light and Sound.

• Electricity and Magnetism: Simple phenomena of magnetism, Electrical quantities, Electric circuits, Dangers of electricity, Electromagnetic effects and electronics.

• Atomic Physics: Radioactivity, Nuclear physics.

All students study a common core syllabus which allows them to achieve up to grade C at IGCSE.  Many students also study additional material for each topic, the extended syllabus, which allows them to achieve grades up to A*.

Assessment

During forms 4 and 5 students carry out a number of internally assessed practical exercises which together count for 20% of the final IGCSE grade.

External assessment consists to two written examination papers.  Students attempting the core syllabus take Paper 1 and Paper 2. Students offering the extended syllabus take Paper 1 and Paper 3.  The weighting is as follows:

Core:               Paper 1 (30%); Paper 2 (50%)
Extended:       Paper 1 (30%); Paper 3 (50%)

LBIS assessment for term grades consists of class-work, homework, project work, unit tests and end of year examination.

Forms 6 - 7

Length: 2 years

Pre-requisite
Higher Level (HL): a C or above in Physics extended and Mathematics extended at IGCSE (Additional mathematics will be an advantage) or any equivalent examination/qualification.

Standard Level (SL): an E or above in Physics and Mathematics at IGCSE or any equivalent examination/qualification.

Rationale
This programme allows students to develop practical techniques and to increase facility in the use of mathematics, which is the language of physics. It also allows students to develop interpersonal skills, and information and communication technology skills, which are essential in modern scientific endeavour and are important life-enhancing, transferable skills in their own right.

Course Description
Students at both SL and HL study a core syllabus, and this is supplemented by the study of options. Students at HL also study additional higher level (AHL) material. Students at both SL and HL study two options.

At the end of the course student will be familiar with:

Available Options

Assessment:
Coursework is continuously assessed throughout the two years of the IB Physics course.  Internal assessment of coursework counts for 24% of the final IB grade.  Areas assessed are:

• Design

• Data Collection and Processing

• Conclusion and Evaluation

• Personal Skills

• Manipulative Skills

In the final IB examination the papers are weighted as follows:

• HL Paper 1 and 2 (core syllabus) 56% HL Paper 3 (options) 20%

• SL Paper 1 and 2 (core syllabus) 52% SL Paper 3 (options) 24%

In school students will be assessed 5 times during Form 6 and 4 times during Form 7 (the forth assessment being the mock exams).  Each assessment will be based on written IB questions for the topics studied.  Grades are awarded on an IB scale.

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